Burunga : 50 opponents removed from the list of candidates for district councils

The fifty candidates had been proposed by the new political coalition “Burundi Bwa Bose”. The Provincial Electoral Commission gives two major reasons : the lack of signature on the CVs and the absence of ethnic identity. Godelieve Ndayihereje, provincial representative of this coalition says she has already contacted the Independent National Electoral Commission, CENI. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The chief of the coalition “Burundi Bwa Bose” in Burunga province speaks of abuse.

“Only two candidates had forgotten to sign their CVs. All our candidates did indeed mention their ethnic identity when submitting the general list of candidates,” she explained to SOS Médias Burundi.

So far, no law governing elections in the small East African nation says that CVs must include a candidate’s ethnic identity, in all elections.

Next year’s district and legislative elections will be held under the new administrative division that reduced the provinces from 18 to 5. Burunga province (southwest and south-east) includes 7 districts. These include Bururi, Matana, Makamba, Mpinga-Kayove, Mabanda, Rumonge and Rutana.

“We have already appealed to the CENI,” added Ms. Ndayihereje.

According to the electoral code, for these elections, two people, a main candidate and his replacement in the event of withdrawal, illness or death, must be presented for each position by political parties or coalitions.

Each candidate must pay 200 thousand Burundi francs as a deposit to “avoid fanciful candidacies”, according to the president of the CENI, Prosper Ntahorwamiye. This deposit is a first.

In Burunga province, the only coalition “Burundi Bwa Bose” has lined up 350 candidates for the district councils. The submission of candidacies took place between December 9 and 18.